diff --git a/apps/desktop-gpui/src/main_window.rs b/apps/desktop-gpui/src/main_window.rs
index aaa2bdf49c8..49fca08ca86 100644
--- a/apps/desktop-gpui/src/main_window.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop-gpui/src/main_window.rs
@@ -43,13 +43,18 @@ const HEADER_HEIGHT: f32 = 36.;
 /// `h-[42px]` in deviceRowStyles.ts.
 const DEVICE_ROW_HEIGHT: f32 = 42.;
 
+fn connected_camera<'a>(
+    id: &recording::DeviceOrModelID,
+    cameras: &'a [CameraOption],
+) -> Option<&'a CameraOption> {
+    cameras.iter().find(|camera| match id {
+        recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID(id) => camera.device_id == *id,
+        recording::DeviceOrModelID::ModelID(model) => camera.model_id.as_ref() == Some(model),
+    })
+}
+
 fn remembered_camera(id: &recording::DeviceOrModelID, cameras: &[CameraOption]) -> CameraOption {
-    cameras
-        .iter()
-        .find(|camera| match id {
-            recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID(id) => camera.device_id == *id,
-            recording::DeviceOrModelID::ModelID(model) => camera.model_id.as_ref() == Some(model),
-        })
+    connected_camera(id, cameras)
         .cloned()
         .unwrap_or_else(|| CameraOption {
             device_id: match id {
@@ -88,6 +93,38 @@ fn remembered_microphone(name: &str, microphones: &[MicrophoneOption]) -> Microp
         })
 }
 
+/// A remembered input stays selected while it is unplugged, so a start has to
+/// go ahead without it rather than fail on its open error. Camera-only is the
+/// one target that cannot record without its camera. The input lists only
+/// refresh while a picker is open, so the start installs a fresh scan first.
+fn skip_disconnected_inputs(
+    config: &mut recording::StartConfig,
+    devices: &mut DeviceSnapshot,
+    fresh_inputs: impl IntoIterator<Item = devices::InputSnapshot>,
+) {
+    for inputs in fresh_inputs {
+        inputs.install(devices);
+    }
+    let camera_missing = config
+        .camera
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_some_and(|id| connected_camera(id, &devices.cameras).is_none());
+    if camera_missing && !matches!(config.target, ScreenCaptureTarget::CameraOnly) {
+        tracing::warn!("Selected camera is not connected, recording without it");
+        config.camera = None;
+        config.camera_feed = None;
+    }
+    let microphone_missing = config
+        .microphone
+        .as_ref()
+        .is_some_and(|name| !devices.microphones.iter().any(|mic| &mic.name == name));
+    if microphone_missing {
+        tracing::warn!("Selected microphone is not connected, recording without it");
+        config.microphone = None;
+        config.mic_feed = None;
+    }
+}
+
 fn take_pending_recording_inputs(
     pending: &mut crate::store::RecordingInputSettings,
     enumerating: bool,
@@ -2461,7 +2498,7 @@ impl MainWindow {
 
     pub(crate) fn start_recording_config(
         &mut self,
-        config: recording::StartConfig,
+        mut config: recording::StartConfig,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) {
         if self.enumerating
@@ -2478,25 +2515,49 @@ impl MainWindow {
         let Ok(permit) = self.prepare_deep_link_start(cx) else {
             return;
         };
-        let microphone_available = config.microphone.as_ref().is_some_and(|name| {
-            self.devices
-                .microphones
-                .iter()
-                .any(|device| &device.name == name)
-        });
-        if !microphone_available && crate::store::GeneralSettings::load().confirm_without_microphone
-        {
-            self.microphone_warning = Some(MicrophoneWarning {
-                config,
-                permit,
-                dont_show_again: false,
-                error: None,
-            });
-            cx.defer(app_windows::show_main_window);
-            cx.notify();
-            return;
-        }
-        self.check_storage_before_start(config, false, permit, cx);
+        let previous_cameras = config
+            .camera
+            .is_some()
+            .then(|| self.devices.cameras.clone());
+        let refresh_microphones = config.microphone.is_some();
+        cx.spawn(async move |this, cx| {
+            let fresh_inputs = cx
+                .background_executor()
+                .spawn(async move {
+                    [
+                        previous_cameras.map(|previous| devices::InputSnapshot::cameras(&previous)),
+                        refresh_microphones.then(devices::InputSnapshot::microphones),
+                    ]
+                })
+                .await;
+            this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
+                if !this.recording_start_is_current(&permit, cx) {
+                    this.finish_recording_start(&permit);
+                    return;
+                }
+                skip_disconnected_inputs(
+                    &mut config,
+                    &mut this.devices,
+                    fresh_inputs.into_iter().flatten(),
+                );
+                cx.notify();
+                if config.microphone.is_none()
+                    && crate::store::GeneralSettings::load().confirm_without_microphone
+                {
+                    this.microphone_warning = Some(MicrophoneWarning {
+                        config,
+                        permit,
+                        dont_show_again: false,
+                        error: None,
+                    });
+                    cx.defer(app_windows::show_main_window);
+                    return;
+                }
+                this.check_storage_before_start(config, false, permit, cx);
+            })
+            .ok();
+        })
+        .detach();
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn prepare_deep_link_start(
@@ -2590,8 +2651,6 @@ impl MainWindow {
             cx.notify();
             return;
         }
-        warning.config.microphone = None;
-        warning.config.mic_feed = None;
         self.check_storage_before_start(warning.config, false, warning.permit, cx);
         cx.notify();
     }
@@ -7387,6 +7446,123 @@ mod remembered_device_tests {
         );
     }
 
+    fn start_config(
+        target: ScreenCaptureTarget,
+        camera: recording::DeviceOrModelID,
+        microphone: &str,
+    ) -> recording::StartConfig {
+        recording::StartConfig {
+            mode: recording::RecordingMode::Studio,
+            target,
+            microphone: Some(microphone.to_string()),
+            camera: Some(camera),
+            device_settings: crate::store::RecordingDeviceSettings::default(),
+            input_readiness: feeds::InputReadiness::default(),
+            system_audio: false,
+            excluded_windows: Vec::new(),
+            camera_feed: None,
+            mic_feed: None,
+            mic_meter: None,
+            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+            linux_instant_camera: None,
+            start_gate: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn display_target() -> ScreenCaptureTarget {
+        ScreenCaptureTarget::Display {
+            id: "1".parse().unwrap(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn connected_devices() -> DeviceSnapshot {
+        DeviceSnapshot {
+            cameras: vec![camera("connected-camera", Some("046d:08e5"))],
+            microphones: vec![MicrophoneOption {
+                name: "Connected microphone".into(),
+                sample_rate: None,
+                channels: None,
+            }],
+            ..Default::default()
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn scan(snapshot: DeviceSnapshot) -> [devices::InputSnapshot; 2] {
+        [
+            devices::InputSnapshot::Cameras(snapshot.cameras),
+            devices::InputSnapshot::Microphones(snapshot.microphones),
+        ]
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_start_checks_a_fresh_scan_rather_than_the_launch_lists() {
+        let camera = recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID("connected-camera".into());
+
+        let mut unplugged_since_launch = connected_devices();
+        let mut config = start_config(display_target(), camera.clone(), "Connected microphone");
+        skip_disconnected_inputs(
+            &mut config,
+            &mut unplugged_since_launch,
+            scan(DeviceSnapshot::default()),
+        );
+        assert!(config.camera.is_none());
+        assert!(config.microphone.is_none());
+        assert!(unplugged_since_launch.cameras.is_empty());
+        assert!(unplugged_since_launch.microphones.is_empty());
+
+        let mut plugged_in_since_launch = DeviceSnapshot::default();
+        let mut config = start_config(display_target(), camera.clone(), "Connected microphone");
+        skip_disconnected_inputs(
+            &mut config,
+            &mut plugged_in_since_launch,
+            scan(connected_devices()),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(config.camera, Some(camera));
+        assert_eq!(config.microphone.as_deref(), Some("Connected microphone"));
+        assert_eq!(plugged_in_since_launch.cameras, connected_devices().cameras);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_start_skips_remembered_inputs_that_are_unplugged() {
+        let unplugged_model = cap_camera::ModelID::try_from("1234:5678".to_string()).unwrap();
+        for camera in [
+            recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID("unplugged-camera".into()),
+            recording::DeviceOrModelID::ModelID(unplugged_model),
+        ] {
+            let mut config = start_config(display_target(), camera, "Unplugged microphone");
+            skip_disconnected_inputs(&mut config, &mut connected_devices(), []);
+            assert!(config.camera.is_none());
+            assert!(config.microphone.is_none());
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_start_keeps_connected_inputs() {
+        let connected_model = cap_camera::ModelID::try_from("046d:08e5".to_string()).unwrap();
+        for camera in [
+            recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID("connected-camera".into()),
+            recording::DeviceOrModelID::ModelID(connected_model),
+        ] {
+            let mut config = start_config(display_target(), camera.clone(), "Connected microphone");
+            skip_disconnected_inputs(&mut config, &mut connected_devices(), []);
+            assert_eq!(config.camera, Some(camera));
+            assert_eq!(config.microphone.as_deref(), Some("Connected microphone"));
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn camera_only_still_requires_its_camera() {
+        let unplugged = recording::DeviceOrModelID::DeviceID("unplugged-camera".into());
+        let mut config = start_config(
+            ScreenCaptureTarget::CameraOnly,
+            unplugged.clone(),
+            "Unplugged microphone",
+        );
+        skip_disconnected_inputs(&mut config, &mut connected_devices(), []);
+        assert_eq!(config.camera, Some(unplugged));
+        assert!(config.microphone.is_none());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn closing_before_enumeration_defers_saved_inputs_until_reopen_once() {
         let saved = crate::store::RecordingInputSettings {